Stuck with Broken Bracelet, Worsened by Rude Kay Jewelers Employees

My boyfriend and I purchased a diamond bracelet from the Kay's in Moline, Illinois on July 9, 2011. Recently, the bracelet broke. A pin holding the links together fell out, and I lost the bracelet in a busy store. I was lucky to be able to find the bracelet, and took it to the Kay's in Moline to get it repaired. We picked the bracelet up February 9, 2012 around 6pm. The following day, I was wearing the bracelet running errands. Around 2pm, I realized the bracelet was again missing. I retraced my steps and found the broken bracelet in a store parking lot.

The bracelet is broken in a different place than before. It did not last even 24 hours! I went back to the Moline store yesterday, February 14, 2012 and spoke with Tobias. Tobias told me there was nothing to do but send it in for repair again. When I pressed on the fact that I don't believe repairing it is going to help the whole situation, I was told that the repair place MIGHT deem it unrepairable. I really don't like the chances of them possibly deciding to deem it unrepairable, as they JUST repaired it, and will likely do that again. There's at least 30 more pins that could break after they repair this one. I have a feeling that one of the next times it breaks, I will not be lucky enough to find it. I will then be out the $249.48 we paid for this poor quality bracelet. Tobias was condescending, and just kept saying, "Well, what do you want me to do?".

This morning, I noticed that people seemed to be getting response based upon post on the Kay Jewelers Facebook wall. I posted about my horrible experience, and actually did get a return call in a few hours. The fact that I actually got the call is where the positive ended. Pam reiterated that I could try to get it deemed unrepairable, OR finally gave the option of trading it in, with the caveat that you buy something 2x as much as the original piece. This is also not an acceptable answer. Why would I want to spend even more money at Kay Jewelers when the service I've received is horrible, and I doubt any of your pieces are of good quality? When I explained this to Pam, her solution was for me to find a different Kay's to go to because the service at the Moline location was poor. I really don't know where that would be considered a solution to my problems.

At this point, I'm stuck with a broken bracelet, with no reasonable solutions. I am highly disappointed in the Kay's customer service.

I want the purchase price of the bracelet and warranty to be refunded immediately, so that I can then take my business elsewhere.

You need to decide what you want and *ask* for it. They may acceptyour offer, or they may make a counteroffer, or they may reject youroffer. You are free to take them to small claims court.

Personally, I think that $250 is very cheap for a diamond bracelet (Imean, yes they look lovely, but they're not the best quality), soconsider asking for equal trade-in value, and getting somethingsmaller but of higher quality, like a pendant or earrings.

Personaly I hate it when I come in with a problem and get told "wellwhat do you want me to do" my bank just told me that over a problem Ihad and I am now looking for a new bank. I would send it in to getrepaired again and when it came back I would test it before wearing itbuy gently pulling on it in several spots and seeing if the pins camelose again. That way you have less chance of loosing it. Stuff likethis is why I don't buy expensive jewlery. Its to easy to lose andthen you are out that money with nothing to show for it.

I think they did offer you a reasonable solution which is to send itin for repair and see if it is now deemed unrepairable. I purchased anumber of items at Kay in 2002 for my bridal party and they are allstill in good shape.

if Kay contracts their repairs out or if the "repair" center isactually part of their corporate structure. If it's not part of Kay,the employees may not be responding as flip as you believe they are. They may just realize that the repair service sucks and they arehelpless to do anything about it.

Is there a local jeweler you would be comfortable taking it to? You'dhave to cover the cost yourself, but at least it would be repaired andrepaired to your specifications.

It's not ideal, but it's better than not having use of it at all orhaving it damaged worse.

I definitely don't agree with the "you get what you pay for" statementbelow. It would be one thing if you were complaining about thequality of the metal or a stone in the bracelet, but in this instanceyou have had to have it repaired twice in a few months time frame fora very basic issue. I've purchased costume jewelry that sounds likeit was made better than this bracelet...it at least stays together.

That being said, I must say that I'm not sure there's a lot you can doother than send it back for repairs. Have the sales person send anote stating that this bracelet has been sent in for the same issueonce before and you are requesting a replacement or at the very leastfor them to check all of the pins to make sure they are secure. Ifthe bracelet means that much to you, you might consider going to alocal jeweler and ask them what they think about the bracelet and ifthere's anything they can do to it to ensure it holds together. You'll have to pay this way, but if you aren't going to getsatisfactory service from Kay it might be an option.

Unless you paid extra for the extended warranty (which, IMO is itselfa scam), you're right - you're stuck with a broken bracelet. I learnedmy lesson when I had to go back a few times for a ring that had stonesthat kept falling out. I very rarely wore it, but I kept up with thewarranty, taking it in to be inspected as was required.

When I finally took it in for a repair, I was told it wasn't coveredbecause I didn't keep up on the warranty, despite me having thereceipts for every time I took it in. I swore off of Kay after thatand went elsewhere for my jewelery needs.

"Tobias told me there was nothing to do but send it in for repairagain. When I pressed on the fact that I don't believe repairing it isgoing to help the whole situation, I was told that the repair placeMIGHT deem it unrepairable."

"Tobias was condescending, and just kept saying, "Well, what do youwant me to do?"".

Really? Well,what DO you want him to do? He told you you needed tosend it back in for repair and you refused...

You are stuck with a broken bracelet because YOU wont have it sent in.

This really is a get what you pay for kinda thing. Granted she shouldhave gotten a bracelet that doesnt fall apart but in the realm of finejewelry and diamonds 250 does not go far, in ways of workmanship orquality of the gems.